Volume Ii Part 22 (2/2)

I tarry for them here, time pa.s.seth away, I lose my learning, they ever loiter behind.

If I go before, they do me threat To complain to my mother: she for their sake, Being her tender tidlings,[213] will me beat: Lord, in this perplexity, what way shall I take?

What will become of them? grace G.o.d them send To apply their learning, and their manners amend!

ISMAEL _and_ DALILAH _come in singing_.

_Here we comen, and here we lonen_,[214]

_And here we will abide abide-a_.

BARNABAS. Fye, brother, fye, and specially you, sister Dalilah, Soberness becometh maids alway.

DALILAH. What, ye dolt, ye be ever in one song!

ISMAEL. Yea, sir, it shall cost you blows, ere it be long.

BARNABAS. Be ye not ashamed the truands to play, Losing your time and learning, and that every day?

Learning bringeth knowledge of G.o.d and honest living to get.

DALILAH. Yea, marry, I warrant you, master hoddypeak.

BARNABAS. Learn apace, sister, and after to spin and sew, And other honest housewifely points to know.

ISMAEL. Spin, quod-a? yea, by the ma.s.s, and with your heels up-wind, For a good mouse-hunt is cat after Saint Kind.[215]

BARNABAS. Lewd speaking corrupteth good manners, Saint Paul doth say; Come, let us go, if ye will, to school this day; I shall be shent for tarrying so long, [_Barnabas goeth out_.

ISMAEL. Go, get thee hence, thy mouth full of horse-dung!

Now, pretty sister, what sport shall we devise?

Thus palting[216] to school, I think us unwise: In summer die for thrist,[217] in winter for cold, And still to live in fear of a churl who would?

DALILAH. Not I, by the ma.s.s, I had rather he hanged were, Than I would sit quaking like a mome for fear.

I am sun-burned in summer, in winter the cold Maketh my limbs gross, and my beauty decay; If I should use it, as they would I should, I should never be fair woman, I dare say.

ISMAEL. No, sister, no, but I can tell, Where we shall have good cheer, l.u.s.ty companions two or three, At good wine, ale, and beer.

DALILAH. O good brother, let us go, I will never go more to-to[218] school.

Shall I never know, What pastime meaneth?

Yes, I will not be such a fool.

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